What do you get when you mix four brothers from the Selvarasa family with hard work and quality ingredients? A mighty fine butter chicken. At Little India in the Queen West neighbourhood, family, food and sharp service are central to the restaurant’s long success.
Sriharan Selvarasa was 16 when his dad, Nalliah, opened the North Indian Punjabi-style restaurant. And he learned quickly the key tenants of success. “It’s a lot of work, time and dedication,” says Sriharan. Luckily there are many Selvarasas to share that work. “Family is the reason we’re here.”
Along with his brother Thaneswaran, Sriharan was passionate about service from the very beginning. He believes it’s the details that matter. “Even the way you present a menu sends a message to the customer,” he says. “If you have good food, but bad service, no one is going to come.”
The other half of the Selvarasa siblings found a passion in the kitchen. Nithiyananthan and Sathiyaseelan ensure that what comes out of the kitchen matches the quality of the service.
Even though the brothers now run Little India, it doesn’t mean the parents have retreated completely. Mrs. Selvarasa still makes the desserts. And Dad? “He looks for mistakes and points them out. Inside, he’s proud,” says a chuckling Sriharan. “He grew up on farms in a big family without much money. They had to work hard so he’s old school.”
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Authentic Indian Food!
THIS PLACE REALLY CAPTURES THE AUTHENTIC TASTE OF INDIA !!! THIS RESTAURANT IS THE ONE AND ONLY PLACE THAT IS A REMINDER OF INDIA WHILE YOUR IN CANADA! THE FOOD IS EXTREMELY FRESH,THE TASTE IS SENSATIONALY FROM THE MEAT DISHES TO THE VEGGIE DISHES RIGHT DOWN TO DESSERT!!! AFTER FINISHING YOUR MEAL YOU FEEL A BOOST OF ENERGY AND THE STAFF ARE SUPER NICE AND FRIENDLY. I RECOMMEND THIS PLACR TO ANY VEGAN OR NON VEGAN PERSON AND MOST AMAZINGLY THE PRICES ARE VERY AFFORDABLE FOR QUALITY AND QUANTIT
I took my parents here for dinner and everyone loved it. The Naan bread was soft and warm and fresh, the chicken and vegetarian dishes we ordered all had distinct flavours and tasted excellent. The sauces were rich and creamy without being too oily or greasy. The food portions were generous and we left "full" ... actually we all ate too much because it tasted so good. The server must have poured me 6 glasses of water throughout our meal! Little India Restaurant has a great small town vibe in the heart of the big city. There's another Indian restaurant right next door but this is the one to go to. Make sure you get a reservation.
Had a chicken curry and a salad today. The chicken...well...one word: Yuck. The bread was dry and the edges of the insides were crusty, the spinach was wet and wilty, leading me to believe that they didn't make it "fresh" as they advertise. This curry and rice was at least a day old. Speaking of day old, that salad was mushy and watery and looked as though it'd been cut the day before or something. Again, not the "fresh seasonal fruit" that is advertised. The resto is dirty and not broomed and its supposed to be authentic indian. The girl at the cash was boring. What a place
Our meal started off with the veggie appetizer plate and it was fairly good. The onion bhajia and pakora were terrific but I was fairly indifferent to the samosa and spring roll. Our mains were phenomenal. The bhuna beef could've used a bit more chili pepper but the dish came piping hot and the meat was literally melting in our mouths. The vegetable jalfrezie was very fresh but the highlight of our meal was without doubt the prawn masala. The sauce had a nice spicy heat to it and the prawns were perfectly cooked (too many times have I eaten rubbery prawns at restaurants). I would go back just for that dish alone. The rice and naan were spot on. For dessert, the rasmalai was almost startlingly sweet but it was nothing to complain about. With a piping hot cup of chai, it was the perfect way to end our meal. I was really impressed with the service considering how crazy-busy it was that day (all 3 floors were packed). I would love to come back to eat here for sure.
Went today for the $10.99 lunch buffet, and they had THE BEST BUTTER CHICKEN that I think I've ever had! Butter chicken is often bland or softly flavored -- not here. It's got tons of flavor without the hotness, giving it a distinct personality. Everything else on the buffet was also above-average,including a curry chicken that was quite different from the usual curry, so I don't hesitate to recommend Little India.
I went to this lunch buffet because of the rating I saw on this site and guess what? the reviews were right on. It was an amazing experience for such little money. I would defnly go there from here on.
Excellent food on the buffet. The rice was especially good.
It wasn't the most amazing Indian restaurant I've been too, but all in all it's good value for money. The service is efficient and friendly. They constantly top up your water glass, which definately helps when you're eating spicy food. The butter chicken is creamy, the panner is ample, the naan is crispy, and the food is expectedly heavy. The location is very convenient in the heart of Queen West, and the restaurant name is easily recognizable for dates and small get-togethers. I would definately go back again, but there are other very similar restaurants of comparable quality and value right near by, and I would be perfectly happy with any one of them.
My girlfriend introduced me to Little India a little over a year or so ago and it has been our favourite restaurant in the city ever since. The Butter Chicken is incredible and for vegetarians that like the sauce, they will usually bring you a bowl of it without the meat (it's easy during the buffet, but asking is the only way to get it during dinner) The lunch buffet is well worth the price at $10.95 per person for all you can eat. Plenty of options to choose from. Buffet runs from 11:30 to 3:30, 7 days a week, be careful though, it gets busy right around the lunch rush. Lines ups often go out the door, but the wait is still usually only 20 minutes or so. Well worth it. But if you're in a hurry, they also offer lunch buffet take-out for the same $10.95 price and provide you with a decent sized container for your main dishes plus tin foil to wrap your naan in and a small bowl shapped container for dessert or soup.
The service was next to perfect, and food was marvelous!
my first time eating indian food and it was amazing i loved it! i went to get 3 servings of butter chicken and out ate my guy co-workers whom i was with. best butter chicken out there!
Food, was excellent best indian food by far. The butter chicken is a must try.
I have to admit, the buffet here at LITTLE INDIA RESTAURANT is very impressive! The buffet table is a good size with a lot of different meat or vegetable dishes to choose from, lots of variety and well presented. The potato-meat curry AND the chickpea curry dishes were super spicy and delicious - bravo! The tandoori chicken was flavorful but not as good as -- superb tandoori chicken. The butter chicken and 2 beef curries were just average. There was some salads available as well as the usual desserts such as gulab jamon (donutball in syrup). The custard with fruit cocktail on top was quite good. The rice pudding was better than average. The generous fruit bowls of watermelon, cantaloupe, orange slices and pineapple were really well presented. Overall, me and my 5 companions were really impressed and satisfied with our meal which costed $10.95 each, which used to cost $8.95 just last year. We all want to come back here again for buffet lunch. The outstanding service was attentive and very courteous, especially with the refilling of the water and removal of used plates. Also, the restaurant is clean and nicely decorated with indian portraits. Please note that there are usually short lineups waiting outside the door or just inside the door. This restaurant is THAT good! Visit again? Yes, absolutely! This is 1 of 2 best indian restaurants on Queen St.
The lunch buffet first hooked me - so I returned for dinner with my trusty dining companion... and we were not disappointed. Great flavours, generous portions, and attentive service. My only complaint - don't sit in the front two tables facing Queen at night - the street light is awful!
Not amazing, but definitely good. I hadn't been in highschool, and its nice that the place is still open and still has decent quality food. My fiancee really liked it. She's a fiend for butter chicken and appreciated the all you can eat aspect.
When it comes to fine indian dining at an affordable price, look no further. With a lunch buffet special at $8.95, its enough to keep you coming back for more. My personal favorite is the butter chicken and the fresh naan. Also the ice cream is very delicious. Highly recommended.
Excellent food (served hot and fresh), friendly and courteous service, cozy environment. I would recommend this restaurant to everybody!
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This long-standing Indian restaurant on Queen West is always bustling. No wonder. With their inviting dishes (tandoori specialties, meat, seafood and vegetarian options) and wallet-friendly pricing, you can enjoy a seductive meal for which you’ll no doubt return to - whether it’s a special occasion or just Wednesday night.
View this Smart ListThis lunch buffet is open seven days a week, with a menu that changes daily, but you can always expect some authentic Indian cuisine. Guaranteed to be fresh, the buffet includes tons of fresh vegetables, seafood, chicken and meats. Plus, its has 10 different types of pickled vegetables and sauces in medium, mild and hot! The lunch buffet is available in between the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
View this Smart ListCozy-looking from the outside and delectable on the inside, Little India dishes all the classics from the subcontinent in their daily brunch and lunch buffet from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. For $13.95, help yourself to a sprawling selection of meats, seafood and vegetable options, soups and salads. Everything is prepared fresh daily and you’ll never see the same selection two days in a row.
View this Smart List